Baked Peanut Butter Chicken

Who says you can't make your own peanut butter chicken like the one you had at that Chinese restaurant? No one y'all. You can make it yourself AND you can have it healthy style too. But before chowing down...or up? I gotta say these past couple of days I have been uncovering some pretty awesome blogs and recipes! It's amazing how large the blogsphere is.

Speaking of blogs, so I am accommodating some new features for the site so stay tuned. I also have a ton of insight on topics you will like for me to explore for my Living Green Series, yay =)

I recently (almost a month ago) started my first REAL job so it's been a little craycray getting used to the routine 8-5 y'all. I mean the first 2 weeks were pretty rushrushrush but it's better now.
Did you know that typically it takes a person 66 days to get used to change in routine or habit? Go figure.

I think I've mentioned this before but Brian and I have been in a major cooking mood/mode. I think it's rubbed off on him...but it was his idea to make this delicious chicken, after we'd tried it at a restaurant one day. Surprisingly the chicken kept it's moisture and tenderness, so no worries about the peanut butter drying out the chicken. Panko bread crumbs and the sriracha sauce are great additions to any recipe. I sure can add sriracha sauce to anything....seriously.

Baked Peanut Butter Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 tray of fresh chicken breasts
• 1 jar of creamy peanut butter
• panko bread crumbs
• Vermeccelli noodles
• Salad
• Sriracha sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375F for 15 minutes.Wash the chicken breasts after taking them out of the tray, and pat them dry with a paper towel completely. In a large plate or bowl, whichever you prefer, place 4-5 tablespoons of peanut butter. You will probably need more, it really depends on the size of the chicken breasts and how peanut buttery you want them. Then once the chicken has been dried, just dip them into the peanut butter, make sure the entire chicken piece is covered. Once they are covered in peanut butter grab some panko bread crumbs and cover both sides of the chicken. Set peanut buttery chicken aside, and prepare the baking pan with parchment paper, cooking spray or cooking oil, the chicken may release some juices so I recommend not using a flat baking sheet. Place chicken into the oven and bake for a total of 30 minutes (15 minutes on each side).

Take chicken out of oven and cut a little into each piece to make sure it's fully cooked. 

If it's not leave in oven for 5 more minutes.

Vermiccelli noodles

 Use a large pan to make the vermiccelli noodles, boil about 5 cups of water, place noodles and drain water after 7-8 minutes. 

Bake and cook w/love

Living Green Series: Getting Started

So I thought I could start a new thing on the blog as part of a healthy, and empowering movement that can not only make us feel good but can actually make a difference in the way we live our lifestyle and approach certain issues.

It's been awhile since the whole 'green revolution' began, to be honest I can't even remember when I first heard about. The whole 'living green' became a lifestyle, a way of living, it even opened the doors to other new and inventive changes and approaches to living a healthier lifestyle that at first became 'cool' and now are just a way of life for many.

This 'Living Green' series will approach a lot of the aspects of healthy living/living 'green'/being eco-friendly/...all aspects of it not just food, so I'm super excited about it! :) It'll be a learning process for both you and me!!

But first things first:  

What is living green?

Well I can say that it is living in a way that causes as less harm as possible to the Earth. Living green or green living is also referred to as sustainable living and it is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources. 

What is healthy living?

Healthy Living is about taking responsibility and making smart health choices such as eating right, physically fitness, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness and prevention are all apart of creating a healthy lifestyle. These choices will help not just our bodies but will keep all aspects of our well-being at balance.

 Hope you enjoy this series as much as me! Got a topic to suggest? Contact me, let me know, I want to know what you think. :)

Orange Chocolate Cake

Today, I sit on the verge of feeling better. I had this massive, pretty intense cold. Brrr. It seems to be going around, and I hope this is the last I see of it. I mean a couple of months ago I was ambushed by a cold, flu, sinusitis, and strep all in a span of 3 months.Never again, y'all. Aside from such ailments life is good.

I've finally been able to break free from the recent grad-cooties, which is basically not knowing what to do with so much free time. Time I didn't have before for watching Netflix at 2 pm on Thursdays, or going to the movies on Tuesday afternoons, or grabbing real coffee at the tres chic place on near Uptown.

So this choco-cake is a must. It called my name from the newspaper I was reading in the morning a few days ago. I found that the perfect combination to choco-cake (actually there are oh-so many perfect combinations ;) is orange marmalade. Aaand everytime I have marmalade I feel the need to sing out the lyrics to Lady Marmalade! Once I spread the marmalade I realized how sexy of a combination it was--I don't think the song had anything to do with that.

Orange Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• Low-Sugar Orange marmalade for topping (optional)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix (using your stand mixer, or gradually add the ingredients and mix if you're using a hand mixer) until just combined. 

Coat a loaf pan or 9" round cake pan well with non-stick cooking spray and pour in the batter.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Once the cake has cooled, spread some orange marmalade.

Love, FM

Shrimp Creole + Mardi Gras-ish

One time I made this delish shrimp recipe that I planned a whole month in advance for Mardi Gras so I could post it on here just in time for the cray-cray celebration I was on a roll, but this and that happened and the post was no more. However, now...I can post it and you can enjoy it. Yum!

Shrimp Creole Over Rice

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound small shrimp shelled and de-veined
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion (finely chopped)
• ~ 4 stalks of celery (finely chopped) 
• 1 medium carrot (peeled and chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• Salt & pepper to taste 

Directions

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic, cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
 

Add the tomato sauce, oregano, and cumin into the pan bring the sauce to a simmer and then reduce the heat to medium low heat. Allow the sauce to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Add the shrimp and cook in the sauce for 3 to 4 minutes or until the shrimp is fully cooked through stirring occasionally and flipping the shrimp about halfway through.

Serve each portion over steamed rice and a generous helping of sauce.

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In other news:

I would like to thank all of the awesome blogger friends that I follow and who have emailed wondering where I was hiding! Thank you guys :)  Your culinary & non-culinary adventures made my days away so much better!

Cook & Bake with love,
FM

Get Fit By Gaming Giveaway

 Hi there everybody, it's been awhile, I've had a few things happen. But not to worry here is a great giveaway for you! You can keep up your game and your health with active games like these so be sure to sign up for your chance to win! You could be the winner ;)

                                                 

Get Fit By Gaming Giveaway

Hosted by Mom to Bed by 8 and Giveaway Bandit

Special thank you to our lovely co-hosts: Mommy Bear Media, Homeschooling Mom 4 Two, Coupon Queen of Texas, The Naptime Review, Mom Knows It All, Books R Us, Simply Sherryl, Stay a Stay at Home Mom and Smoothies and Cocktails Recipes.

Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle Includes:

Xbox 360 S Console 250GB Hard Drive Kinect Sensor

Wireless Controller Kinect Adventures Carnival Games: Monkey See Monkey Do

One lucky reader will receive a Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle Console Bundle!

Giveaway ends March 1st at 11:59pm, open to US & Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Magnolia 75: The Baking Lounge is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Xbox Bundle Giveaway Event Announcement

Hi everyone I am happy to announce that there is a giveaway for you guys coming really soon!! However, if you're a blogger and would like to participate in this mega giveaway sign up! Be sure to visit Mom to Bed by 8 and Giveaway Bandit because there's more where this came from :)

Xbox Bundle Giveaway Event

Hosted by: Mom to Bed by 8 and Giveaway Bandit

Prize Package includes: Xbox 360 S Console, 250GB Hard Drive, Kinect Sensor, Wireless Controller, Kinect Adventures and Carnival Games: Monkey See Monkey Do

Event dates: 2/15 - 3/1

Free Blogger Event: Sign Up HERE

Baked Spaghetti Squash with Turkey

As the new year rolls in Brian and I have adopted the healthy eating lifestyle with warm hearts and embracing bellies to the subtle changes we began to make last fall. A couple of the changes we have made are cutting out unhealthy fats, incorporating more vegetables and fruits into our meals, eating less sugars, eating less red meats and more meats like turkey, fish, and chicken, and completely eliminating processed foods, YEAH!

The first couple of days have been hard for me because suddenly I'm not having toast with my egg in the morning and no jalapeno chips with my tuna sandwich and no diet soda with my lunch. The sudden elimination of a lot of carbs---empty carbs at that that my body was used to receiving did make me feel groggy, get headache, and a little irritable (just because I wasn't eating those chips, man!). But after the first week it got better. :) And I feel great (hear me roar).

I really enjoyed this recipe not just because it is healthy and tasty but because I tried something new: Spaghetti Squash! Whoa, if you haven't tried it and you want to challenge whether or not it actually looks like spaghetti you have to try it! It is delish and nutritious, it can substitute pasta any day for me. :)

Like did you know that spaghetti squash only has 27 calories, 7 grams of carbohydrates, low on fat, and low on salt. Compared to pasta that well, we all know is quite carb-y. Make it your goal to try it sometime this week. In other news there will be a weekly post on one of my favorite topics. I can't tell you yet but stay tuned!

Baked Spaghetti Squash with Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 medium sized spaghetti squash
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce (more if you'd like once it's served)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F.  Pour olive oil onto a large baking pan. Slice spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, be sure to use a really sharp knife to do this because the shell is kinda hard. Once it's in half scoop everything out and onto the baking pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes, and make sure the squash strands have the consistency of spaghetti. :)

Now in a large pan or skillet heat the olive oil at medium heat and add the onions and garlic gently stir, lower the heat once the smell of garlic becomes strong (usually 2 minutes) add the fish sauce. Gently add the ground turkey and stir until ingredients are well combined. Let it cook for about 5 minutes or until the turkey is cooked. Lastly add the Sriracha sauce and combine with ingredients. Once the turkey is cooked you should add the spaghetti squash.

One of my favorite foods is steamed veggies or sauteed veggies, any combination of sauce to vegetable is guaranteed to be one of my favorites!

Sauteed Cauliflower

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 head of cauliflower
• 4 tablespoons light soy sauce (the low on sodium one)

Directions

Cut each cauliflower 'tree' (lol) from the stem and wash then set aside. In a large pan pour olive oil and let it warm at low heat. Add cauliflower and cover the pan for 2 minutes. Then uncover pan, increase heat (medium is okay) and add the soy sauce. Let the pan warm up and swish the cauliflower until it is covered in soy sauce, keep swishing or stirring for 2-3 minutes then turn off heat and serve warm.

This recipe was adapted from White On Rice Couple

Bake and cook with love :)